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Screenings

What We Do

Spirometry measures how much air you can move and how fast — one of the clearest early signals of a developing respiratory problem. We bring the same equipment a pulmonology clinic uses directly to the communities least likely to have one nearby.

A Screening Event, Start to Finish

How it works.

01

We partner with a local site

A community center, school, clinic, or place of worship in a low-income area hosts the event and helps us reach residents who need it most.

02

We bring the equipment and the people

Clinical-grade spirometers, trained student volunteers, and a supervising clinician run the event together.

03

You fill out a short screener

Before spirometry, each patient completes a screener based on a nationally recognized lung function questionnaire. A physician on-site interprets it, either referring you on to spirometry or answering any questions first.

04

You breathe, we measure

The test itself takes a few minutes: a few forceful breaths into a spirometer, measured against expected values for your age, height, and sex.

05

You get your results, explained

A supervising clinician reviews every result on-site and explains what it means in plain language — no jargon, no waiting for a portal.

06

Abnormal results get a referral

If a result suggests something worth following up, we connect you to affordable or free follow-up care in your area — partnering with Covered California and local insurance providers to help you find and access the coverage that gets you there.

A patient completing the lung function screener at check-in
Completing the screener at check-in
Trained volunteers preparing to administer spirometry tests
Trained volunteers, ready to test
A volunteer discussing screening results with a patient outdoors
Walking a patient through their results
Why It's Free

Cost shouldn't decide who finds out early.

A volunteer checking a patient's blood pressure at a screening event

Spirometry is routine in a pulmonology office, but a specialist referral, insurance approval, and a co-pay stand between a lot of people and that test — especially in communities that are also exposed to more air pollution, secondhand smoke, and occupational hazards.

Every screening we run is free, with no insurance or ID required to participate. The program is funded entirely by donations and grants to our 501(c)(3).

Host a Screening

Bring this to your community

If you run or know a community center, clinic, school, or congregation that could host an event, we'd like to hear from you.

Propose a Site